KUGOMPO- The NatuReS II Regional Learning Exchange 2026 concluded yesterday at the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) at KuGompo City(formerly known as East London)wrapping up three days of dialogue, technical exchange and regional collaboration focused on strengthening water stewardship in Africa’s industrial regions.
Hosted from 24–26 February by the ELIDZ in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under its Natural Resources Stewardship Programme II (NatuReS II), the event brought together delegates from South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia and Tanzania.
Government leaders, private sector representatives, water managers, academia and civil society united under the theme: “From Source to Industry: Stewardship Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Socio-Ecological Transformation and Water-Smart Industrial Futures.”
ELIDZ Chief Operations Officer Ayanda Ramncwana said operating in a water-stressed province demands foresight and discipline. “Water is central to our priority sectors. Secure, well-governed systems are fundamental to competitiveness, investor confidence and long-term resilience,” she noted, highlighting the zone’s focus on environmental governance, monitoring systems and risk-based management.A central message throughout the exchange was that industries can no longer rely on a single traditional water source.
Delegates explored diversified approaches including rainwater harvesting, seawater abstraction, groundwater supplementation, Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and treated wastewater reuse.
The ELIDZ Sea Water Pump Station served as a practical case study, demonstrating how seawater can supplement freshwater supplies for process-specific industrial needs.
Delegates also visited the Science and Technology Park CAS Laboratory and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Wastewater Treatment Plant, where integrated, multi-source water management systems are supporting a transition toward a Net Zero Water future.
Sarah Beerhalter, Head of Programme for GIZ–NatuReS emphasised that integrated planning and scientific decision-making are essential to building water-smart industrial regions capable of withstanding climate pressures.
As the exchange concluded, delegates reaffirmed their commitment to scaling collaborative water governance and alternative water sourcing initiatives across Africa, recognising stewardship partnerships as critical to securing the continent’s industrial future.
Photographs: supplied/ELIDZ Facebook
